Recently a beloved sister in Christ wrote me about what was going on in her life. Wave after wave of disappointment, really difficult physical problems, and just plain weariness in her soul had finally overwhelmed her so that she could barely keep going. Here is what God prompted me to write her:

Well my dear girl, the sun rises on another day. God is still in loving control and knows His plans for you today, and tomorrow, and for always.

 So you have stepped out in various areas in your lives and the steps have been made with all the effort you could make, but it looks like they are steps into a muddy swamp with no clear road or even a path ahead. The mud is caked and heavy on your feet. You really thought you saw the way clearly. Certainly you had heard His Voice through reading His Word and in prayer, you were so sure. Now things are about as clear as that mud you are slogging through, and it is exhausting and looks hopeless.

That huge log in your way didn’t show up until you were right up on it, and those darned alligators swam in lookin’ pretty darned hungry. They even took a few nips at you, snapping their jaws in anticipation of a hearty meal. The odd-looking swamp plants scratched you up and left you bleeding. And it looked as if your Guide had taken a respite, waiting for you to catch up yet you still can’t find the place where He is waiting for you.

 But what an adventure you have had! Not a timid, boring, sitting-around type at all! It has been hot and sticky, dirty and sweaty. It’s been mosquito-bitten and filled with crashing thunder and rain, and not much sunshine but instead, a deep swamp gloom. It’s been virtually impossible to get out of that swamp with casts and IV’s and pain and discouragement hampering you. The mud has been smelly and awful, and the journey has just been seemingly endless—even to me, and I am just watching and praying on the sidelines.

 OK, so you have had some nice campouts along the way, some reasonable food, a few breaks here and there, a couple of blessings. But mostly, it’s been a really rough journey that has seemed to not progress much towards your goals but to stagnate in the weeds of disappointment, heartache and weariness of your souls. Frankly, my idea of camping out is a hotel without HBO and your accommodations haven’t been at all accommodating!

 But you and your husband have been so faithful to Him. You have held hands along the way, sought to help others up out of the mud, and sent more than a few out of the swamp to freedom—His freedom. Perhaps this swamp isn’t the swamp you would have chosen for yourselves—and onlookers might even have whispered that you must have done something terrible to deserve this. In your hearts at times you have even wondered, "What is going on God? We signed up to serve You and we know the Word tells us that in this life we will have tribulation, but really, God, when is enough enough?"

 And that’s when your most loving Abba Father hugs you close to Him. You can hear His Heart beating. You can feel His breath on your face. How sweet it is! You can feel the warmth of Him speeding the chill from your trembling heart. His sleeve softly wipes your tears and runny nose. He soothes your sobs of disappointment, and His Voice fills your ears with words of love, comfort, and assurance.

Like a wonderful woodstove, the warmth of His caring stokes the fires within you. He adds the kindling of His love to the flames of your devotion to each other, and feeds the good, dry wood to the blaze of growing heat as His wondrous peace that surrounds you.

 While you are warming up, while the chill is rushing from your bones, snuggle up to Him. Rest in Him. Lay your head on His broad chest and on each other, and let the thoughts and burdens of the swamp melt away. Feed on Him, remember that His love and mercy were new this morning and that the sun rose again. Don’t forget to greet Him with childlike expectancy, and ask,"What’s next, Papa?"Lovingly, your sister in Christ

Copyright 2005 by Desiree Marrion

Desirée Marrion is a member of Eastside Foursquare Church. She is a single mom, a grandmother, and an administrative assistant at a medical research facility. You may reach her at: marrion8955@yahoo.com